Shiva Jnana Bodham

Śivajñānabodham

Twelve sutras that became the foundational philosophical text of Tamil Shaiva Siddhanta.

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Tradition: Shaiva Siddhanta · Shaivism
Difficulty: advanced
Attribution: MeykandarMeykandar; tradition regards it as a Tamil rendering of twelve Sanskrit verses from the Raurava Agama, a claim scholars discuss
Period · language: 13th century CE · Tamil
Themes: God · Soul · Bondage · Grace · Liberation

Why read this?

It sets out, in compact form, the Shaiva Siddhanta account of Lord (Pati), soul (Pashu) and bond (Pasha), a realist theism distinct from both Advaita and Vaishnava Vedanta.

Questions it answers

?What is the relation between God and the soul?
?What binds the soul, and how does grace release it?

Key teachings

Editorial overview

Pati, Pashu, Pasha

Three realities are eternal: the Lord (Pati, Shiva), souls (Pashu) and the bonds (Pasha) that fetter them, chiefly anava (innate impurity), karma and maya.

Proof of the Lord

The opening sutra argues that the world, being a product that appears, persists and dissolves, requires an intelligent agent.

Grace as the cause of release

Liberation comes through Shiva's grace (arul), often through the guru, when the soul is ready. The soul does not become Shiva but comes to rest in union with him.

Inseparable yet distinct

The relation of God and soul is described as advaita in a special sense: inseparable, but not identical.

Structure

Twelve sutrasTraditionally grouped as proofs (1–6), means (7–9) and fruit (10–12)
CommentaryMeykandar's own brief explanatory notes and illustrations accompany the sutras

Source not yet ingested

The text of the Shiva Jnana Bodham is not part of this version. What you see here is an editorial overview with passage references. No verses have been reproduced or invented. The architecture is ready for the text to be added.

Concepts

Conceptपति पशु पाशPati, Pashu, Pasha — Lord, soul, bondShaiva Siddhanta's three eternal realities: the Lord, bound souls, and the bonds that bind them.ConceptशिवShiva (as principle)Shiva as the supreme reality or pure consciousness, as understood in Shaiva philosophies.Conceptअनुग्रहAnugraha — graceDivine grace — God's freely given favour that frees the soul.Conceptकर्मKarmaAction — and the way actions shape future experience.ConceptमायाMayaThe power of appearance — why the world seems other than it is.Conceptमोक्षMoksha — liberationFinal freedom from bondage and the cycle of rebirth.ConceptजीवJiva — the individual soulThe living, embodied individual who acts, experiences and transmigrates.

TextशैवागमShaiva AgamasThe Shaiva Agamas it draws on Textशिवसूत्रShiva SutrasKashmir Shaivism offers a more strictly non-dual Shaiva view

Thinkers

Thinkerमेय्कण्डार्MeykandarTraditionally placed in the early 13th century CE.

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Traditions

शैव सिद्धान्तShaiva Siddhanta शैवShaivism

Source type: Primary source. Overview text on this page is editorial.